Christmas Day

I'll Be Home for Christmas always makes me cry. The first year Klep and I celebrated Christmas as a married couple, we made a conscious effort to establish the tradition that our home was where we both were. We did not begin the going home for Christmas that would have put us into a competition. We have, since then, spent part of the day other places, but most of our Christmas days have been spent in our home. Fortunately most of the rest of the family has decided that our house isn't a bad place to spend most of the day!

Christmas contrast with Thanksgiving here because Thanksgiving is a carefully thought out proceedure. I have schedules and lists. Christmas pretty much happens. We never completely know what we will be having for dinner until we sit down at the table.

Now, don't get me wrong! There is always plenty of food. This year will probably be remembered for the Boef Bourguignon and the garlic mashed potatoes which were contributed by Rob and Traci. No matter what shows up, it always blends into a good menu which is well seasoned with laughter.

Thanksgiving is one of those days when the good table cloth and the china comes out. Not so Christmas! This year we were paper Santa Plates and cups with assigned reindeer names. A couple of the elves assigned names and decorated cups. We give the "maid" the day off on Christmas and clean up is quick and easy.

One thing is always on the schedule on Christmas day and that is the reading of the Christmas story from Luke. This year after everyone was gathered, the elves collected those of us who had slipped away to the kitchen and four generations of our family paused to listen to those verses about the baby, the angels, and the shepherds. And we, like Mary, pondered them in our hearts. We had our Christmas prayer, the gifts were unwrapped, and the bedlam was on!

The afternoon at our house is another happening. After the dinner is cleared, the cookies and candies find their way to the table. We are in and out. Games go on. The puzzle begins. Friends drop in, and the day slips away until some of our family start heading home.

When the darkness falls, the grazing begins again with sandwiches and leftovers.